JACK POTTER, THE "FIGHTING PARSON", Page #0279

British army under Packenham. It was on account of his love and veneration
for "Old Hickory" that he named his son Andrew Jackson. While quite young the
boy's father moved to Grand River, near Clinton, where the lad spent his
boyhood. Clinton was at that time a border county and educational facilities
were very limited. Three months in school covered the entire period of Andy's
scholastic experience, and during this time he learned to read after a fashion,
but did not acquire the art— of writing.

At the age of ten, Andrew was an orphan, without home, friends or heritage, and
became a race rider, and his skill, courage and daring soon won the high regard
of his employer to the extent that he taught him to write, play cards and shoot
straight ; three of the most important branches of a frontiersman's education
during those early days. For six years Andrew followed the occupation of race
rider, his daily associates being jockeys, gamblers, drunkards and
blasphemers— six years of perilous paths that led over hills,
mountains and deserts from St. Louis to Santa Fe. In 1846, when hostilities
broke out between the United States and Mexico, Mr. Potter then being about 16
years of age, enlisted in Captain Slack's company of volunteers and, under
command of General Sterling Price, took up the line of march for Santa Fe, New
Mexico. A few days' march demon- strated the fact that Andrew was too small to
carry a haversack and musket and endure the fatigue of a soldier. He was
detailed as teamster, where he learned his first lesson in driving oxen.

The expedition left Leavenworth, Kansas, in September, 1846, and the route led up
the Arkansas. Before reaching Bent's Fort the entire train of 40 wagons was
captured by the Cheyenne Indians. Not apprehending danger, it seems the main
body of troops had passed on far in advance, leaving the train without an
escort. Under the cloak of friendship, two Indians came into the